After rain and muddy trails set the tone during Stage 1, the Swiss rain clouds made way for blue skies and afternoon sunshine on Stage 2 of the 2019 Swiss Epic. With some of the race’s most stunning landscapes awaiting them on route, riders set off from the start line in a chilly St. Moritz to begin the day’s climbing.

A slightly shorter route, the 65km day was no less steep with 2500m of cumulative climbing on the stage. Luckily, all good ascents at the Swiss Epic are rewarded with memorable views, and none more so than the incredible panoramas of Piz Palü, Piz Bernina and the Engadine. Passing the highest point of the route at the Laj Alv natural reservoir, riders were in for a long and fun descent down the world champs trail of the Ski World Cup race track in St. Moritz and the waves and curves of the flow trail of the Fopettas Trail.

Riders from all over the world have come together to enjoy the Alpine trails and a particularly unique pair this year are Ecuadorian newlyweds Ana Isabel Idrovo and Felipe Eguez. Having proposed on the finish line after they completed their second Absa Cape Epic race in 2018, the couple decided to celebrate their honeymoon by riding the Swiss Epic.

While unconventional for most, to Ana and Felipe it is the perfect celebration of their wedding. “It’s just the perfect honeymoon!” said an excited Ana at the finish line of Stage 2 in St. Moritz. “It’s a very good honeymoon for us and we’re doing what we like,” added Felipe. “We enjoyed the downhills and the curves today, the flowing trails were just amazing. We were very tired at the climbs but we could recharge our batteries on the downhills,” he laughed.
When asking them what the best part of the race is, their answers are telling of the good spirit between the team. “I don’t mind sleeping in tents, but Felipe likes the hotels. It’s very good to sleep in a bed and to have a shower. You sleep well which makes sure you’re well recovered for the next stage,” said Ana. “I already made a promise, I’ll never sleep in a tent again!” quipped Felipe. “It’s a beautiful hotel as well, so it’s the perfect combination of mountain biking and spending time together,” Ana added.

The team might be loving the beautiful views of the stages so far, but they are also in it with a fair amount of competitive ambition. After winning the final stage in the Mixed Category of their last Absa Cape Epic race right before Felipe proposed, they have something to prove and hope to achieve a podium by the end of the race.
“We hope our performances will be better on the next stages and we hope to get a spot on the podium,” said Ana. When asked whether he thinks they could replicate their stage-winning performance pre-engagement, Felipe laughed. “Last year when we won the stage I didn’t spend any thought on the stage, I was just riding with my mind fully focused on the fact that I’ll propose to Ana Isabel at the end of the stage. This year I’ll be more focused on the riding and I can motivate myself better.”

Or perhaps Felipe just needs to propose to Ana for a second time?
“Haha, yes for a stage win it would be worth it!”

For more Swiss Epic action, tune in on www.swiss-epic.com tomorrow from 07:30am CET for Stage 3 when riders take on the route from St. Moritz to Lenzerheide.